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Renovated Mill Overlooking Portree Bay, Isle Of Skye

Renovated Mill Overlooking Portree Bay, Isle Of Skye

Built over 200 years ago, the house is the main part of Portree's former grain mill on the edge of the village. Above a burn, flanked by beech trees, it is close to the shore and commands fine views across to the Isle of Raasay. Portree is an ideal base for all Skye's attractions: walking; sailing; climbing; wildlife and bird watching. Equally, you can walk straight from the house into the hills or into the village for a lovely meal. The accommodation is flexible, with two bedrooms (one ensuite) on the ground floor and a studio at the top of the building (with a WC). The house is built on three floors linked by a spiral staircase. The middle floor is a very attractive open plan living area with the original mill stone. It has recently been fully renovated and redecorated, including installation of an eco-friendly heating and ventilation system. There is off-street parking beside the building.

Overview

House in Portree, Isle of Skye, Scottish Highlands, Scotland - Listed Building In A Conservation Area With Sea And Mountain Views. Close To Local Amenities

Built over 200 years ago, the house is the main part of Portree's former grain mill on the edge of the village. Above a burn, flanked by beech trees, it is close to the shore and commands fine views across to the Isle of Raasay. Portree is an ideal base for all Skye's attractions: walking; sailing; climbing; wildlife and bird watching. Equally, you can walk straight from the house into the hills or into the village for a lovely meal. The accommodation is flexible, with two bedrooms (one ensuite) on the ground floor and a studio at the top of the building (with a WC). The house is built on three floors linked by a spiral staircase. The middle floor is a very attractive open plan living area with the original mill stone. It has recently been fully renovated and redecorated, including installation of an eco-friendly heating and ventilation system. There is off-street parking beside the building.

About Finlay MacLeod

I am a retired teacher living in Edinburgh. My widowed mother lives in Portree and we find the mill a lovely base for family visits or just a break.

Finlay MacLeod purchased this house in 2003

Why Finlay MacLeod chose Isle of Skye & Lochalsh

Lucy and I have family and friends who live in and around Portree and we stay regularly in the mill. It has become in part a family home for us and as well as a conservation project.

We have owned Number 1, the Old Mill (an Sean Mhuilean) since 2003. We did a lot of work in 2005 changing the layout of the middle floor and installing central heating. In 2012 we carried out further extensive work with 2 new bathrooms on the ground floor and installed an air source heat pump system complemented by heat recovery ventilation. In the long term we will restore the lime mortar pointing on the outside of the building.

What makes this house unique

The mill and the neighbouring cottages were build in 1805. They appear to be the first buildings erected on Scorrybreac Road and were part of an ambitious programme of building by James Gillespie Graham who was Lord MacDonald’s Superintendent of Works. James Gillespie Graham went on to have a very successful career particularly in Edinburgh. There he was responsible for the lay out of much of the later New Town.

Pictures and more information can be seen in the mill.

Location

Coast/Beach:

The house is on the coast, 50 metres from the shore. Portree is a small harbour town in a splendid setting. Skye offers the opportunity for many coastal and mountain walks.

Train: the nearest stations are Kyle of Lochalsh and Mallaig (for ferry to Armadale).

Bus: regular direct buses to Glasgow and Inverness.

Air: nearest airport is Inverness (112 miles).

Car hire: available in Portree and Inverness.

Distances:

Portree is the main settlement on Skye, 34 miles north-west from the Skye Bridge.

Further Details:

The centre of the village is 5 minutes walk from the house. Portree has a good butcher in Wentworth Street, a fishmonger on the pier, and you might want to try the Isle of Skye Baking Company off the Dunvegan Road. There is a large supermarket on the road out of the village and a smaller one within walking distance. There are banks and a Post Office. A small market for local produce is usually held in the village square on Thursdays in the summer. There are a number of local cafes and restaurants. We recommend Sea Breezes for locally caught fish and Café Arriba for coffee and cake or lunch. Further afield is the renowned 3 Chimneys Restaurant.

There is information in the house and available from the local tourist office in the village about: walking and mountain climbing; local guides; historic buildings and castles; watersports; boat trips and wildlife.

Notes on accommodation: Wifi now available. Outside: Beyond the parking and turning area, the grounds of the house - shaded by four mature beech trees - slope down to a burn which runs into the sea. You can walk over the bridge and down to the shore which is 50 metres away. Utility Room: Washing machine and drying area in the loft. Cleaning / Towels / Linen / Maid service: Linen and towels included. Other: Tiled entrance hall with space for boots, coats etc.

Beautifully decorated spacious old mill- highly recommended.

We loved our stay at the old mill and particularly liked the layout and interior design and colour schemes of the interior. The kitchen was well very well kitted out so without any trouble we managed to cook languostines picked up from the harbour! The bedrooms are spread out through the building giving privacy if you are with different groups. It was nice as well in the evening to be able to walk 5 minutes to Portree for dinner or for a drink which had lots of nice places to go to. We fell in love with Skye and hope to come back one day. Highly recommended place!

Stunning & Extremely Comfortable Property

This is a beautifully and lovingly restored old property about a quarter mile from the main section of town, close to Cuillin Hills Hotel. With three floors and tons of space for this small family of three, it was incredibly comfortable...to the point of feeling luxurious. It was also wonderfully furnished - truly a picture perfect rental. It felt like we were staying in the home of a close family friend...with the bonus of lovely bay views.

The pictures just don't do it justice - it's even more special in person. Staying here was a highlight of our trip - and Portree was a perfect base from which to explore Skye.

Finlay was extremely accommodating - I honestly can't recommend this property more highly.

Magnificent place to stay!

My wife and I have stayed in a number of VRBOs both in the United States and Europe. The Mill is the most interesting and enjoyable rental we have stayed in. The beds are comfortable and the house is well stocked. The entire house is spotlessly clean. The location can't be beat. It is an easy five minute walk to the town center and a number of restaurants. It is easy to get out of town to visit awesome sites within an hour or less drive from the Mill. Admittedly five straight days of sunshine contributed to the enjoyment of our stay in Portree but the Mill was a significant factor as well. The owners, Finlay and Lucy were very easy to work with. We recommend the Mill as a great place to stay during your visit to the Isle of Sky. Ron & Rose

Additional pricing information

Fees

No additional mandatory fees

Booking Notes:
For booking, please contact us. It is sometimes possible to arrange for a shorter stay. Payment will be by cheque, bank transfer or via PayPal. We normally ask for a deposit to secure the booking.
Unfortunately we are not in a position to take pets.